Ski binding



H. E. DODDS Sept. 10, I935.

SKI BINDING Filed F'eb. 2'7, 1935 INIICMTOR MIRVEY 6'. Deans I lqttorne Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATS A'ET QFFHE 2 Claims.

The invention appertains to ski bindings of the class in which the toe cheeks or ears are adjustable to accommodate different sized boots. In making adjustments to suit a particular boot it 5 is essential to provide for varying the angle or inclination of the toe cheeks or .ears in order that they may snugly fit the sides of the sole of the boot. Various means have been devised to produce a structure in which angular adjustment as well as lateral extension is possible.

However, the present ski binding concerns an improved structure incorporating means as aforementioned for adapting the toe cheeks or ears to the width and also to the toe angle of a boot.

The invention consists essentially in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts where by the toe cheeks have considerable lateral extension in addition to an angular swing to accommodate different sized shoes.

This is achieved by a pair of toe cheeks having base portions of which the front and rear edges are curved in the arc of a circle and supplied with tongues or projections in the nature of teeth. The teeth mesh with .similar tongues or projections longitudinally arranged in the form of depending flange members at the front and rear edges of an upperplate clamped to the ski.

A distinct advantage of this construction is that due to the peripheral interlocking of the toe cheeks with the upper-plate a sufiicient number of teeth are always in mesh to withstand the stress and strain to which a ski binding is subjected.

A salient feature of the invention is that the interlocking teeth are not hidden from view, and consequently the person fitting the binding toa shoe can assure himself that the teeth are properly interlocked.

A further feature of the binding is that it is inexpensive to manufacture and facile of adjustment.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view depicting the binding attached to a ski.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the toe cheeks and the upper-plate inverted and detached.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In the drawing, the reference numeral'5 denotes the usual ski, which is commonly of wood.

The toe cheeks, which are of metal, comprise the upstanding wings 6 and the integral base portions 1. The wings may have lugs for fitting over the edge portions of the boot sole or they may be equipped with toe straps. These details of the 5 wings do not concern the present invention.

An upper-plate 8 is fitted over the base of both wings and is clamped to the ski by suitable securing means. The means herein shown by way of illustration but not of limitation consist of wood 10 screws 9 fitted in perforations in the upper-plate and lodged in slots H3 in the bases 7. The slots are elongated to enable the toe cheeks to be adjusted both laterally and angularly.

The complementary toe cheeks may be stamped 5 from flat stock and bent at right angles to form the wings aforesaid. The base portion of each may be termed a base plate. Each base plate has its front and rear edges curved on an arc of a circle and notched to form tongues or projections 20 H with substantially parallel flanks. The tongues or projections constitute teeth that extend radially from the opposite curved edges.

The upper-plate has its front and rear edges bent downwardly parallel to each other, and the 25 flanges thus formed are notched to provide tongues or projections with substantially parallel flanks. These tongues or projections 12 constitute rack teeth that depend from the underface of the upper-plate.

Accordingly, when the upper-plate is positioned over the base plates, the teeth interlock and in this manner preclude the shifting of the toe cheeks. The screws clamp this structure to the ski. Adjustment of the spacing of the wings or varying the angle thereof, can be effected by slackening the screws sufficiently to raise the upper-plate to disengage the teeth. To aid in making adjustment or fitting of the binding to a boot, a spring or springs, preferably of the fiat 40 type, may be employed beneath the upperplate to raise it as the screws are slackened.

These expedients are already well known in the art and hence are not shown in the drawing.

It will be observed that the benefits accruing from this construction are that the toe cheeks and the upperplate may be fashioned from a heavy gauge stock and that the teeth interfit for the full depth of each tooth. This produces an exceedingly sturdy structure requisite in a ski binding.

What I claim is:-

1. A binding comprising in combination, a pair of base plates having their front and rear edges curved in an arc of a circle and notched to form 5 teeth, said teeth, extending radially with respect to the arcuate edges of the base plates, wings integral with said base plates, an upperplate fitted over said base plates and having its front and rear edges downturned parallel to each other to form flanges, said flanges being notched to furnish depending teeth for interlocking engagement with the teeth of the base plates, and means for attaching the upperplate to a ski.

2. A binding comprising in combination a pair of wings, base plates integral therewith and having slots therein and having their front and rear edges curved in an arc of a circle and notched in said apertures and slots for engagement in a 10 ski.

HARVEY E. DODDS. 

